Methods and apparatus for improving the reliability and accuracy of identifying, analyzing and authenticating objects, including chemicals, using multiple spectroscopic techniques

Abstract

An integrated apparatus capable of both molecular and elemental spectroscopic analysis includes, in an exemplary embodiment, a molecular spectroscopic analysis system, an elemental spectroscopic analysis system, and a computational and analysis module. The computational and analysis module is coupled to the molecular spectroscopic analysis system and to the elemental spectroscopic analysis system. The integrated apparatus also includes a display device coupled to the computational and analysis module.

1 . An integrated apparatus capable of both molecular and elemental spectroscopic analysis, said apparatus comprising: 
 a molecular spectroscopic analysis system;    an elemental spectroscopic analysis system;    a computational and analysis module coupled to said molecular spectroscopic analysis system and to said elemental spectroscopic analysis system; and    a display device coupled to said computational and analysis module.    
   
   
       2 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said molecular spectroscopic analysis system comprises an infrared spectroscopic system, or an ultraviolet spectroscopic system.  
   
   
       3 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said elemental spectroscopic analysis system comprises an x-ray fluorescence spectroscopic system.  
   
   
       4 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said molecular spectroscopic analysis system comprises a laser induced fluorescence spectroscopic system, an arc-induced fluorescence spectroscopic system, or a filament-induced fluorescence spectroscopic system, and said elemental spectroscopic analysis system comprises an x-ray fluorescence spectroscopic system.  
   
   
       5 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said molecular spectroscopic analysis system comprises a near infrared spectroscopic system and said elemental spectroscopic analysis system comprises an x-ray fluorescence spectroscopic system.  
   
   
       6 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said computational and analysis module comprises a processor programmed to compare inputs from said molecular spectroscopic analysis system and said elemental spectroscopic analysis system.  
   
   
       7 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 6  wherein said computational and analysis module comprises a processor programmed with at least one algorithm to automatically compare inputs from said molecular spectroscopic analysis system and said elemental spectroscopic analysis system.  
   
   
       8 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said apparatus is portable, having a weight and size to enable said apparatus to be transported by a user.  
   
   
       9 . A method for analyzing an object to determine at least one of authenticate the object, identify the object, determine the composition of the object, determine the constituents of the object, and determine constituent concentrations of the object, said method comprising the steps of: 
 analyzing an object for its molecular composition using a molecular spectroscopic analysis system;    analyzing the object for its elemental composition using an elemental spectroscopic analysis system; wherein the molecular spectroscopic analysis system and the elemental spectroscopic analysis system are part of one integrated apparatus;    conducting the analysis using each spectroscopic system substantially simultaneously; and    comparing the results of each spectroscopic system to determine at least one of authenticity, identity, type, composition, constituents, and constituent concentrations of the object.    
   
   
       10 . A method in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising attaching at least one of a bar code, a two-dimensional symbol, and a three-dimensional symbol to the object.  
   
   
       11 . A method in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising adding at least one of an elemental and a molecular taggant to the object.  
   
   
       12 . A method in accordance with  claim 9  further comprising adding a taggant to a peripheral of the object, wherein said peripheral comprises at least on of a packaging of the object and a coating on the object.  
   
   
       13 . A method in accordance with  claim 9  wherein the integrated apparatus comprises a computational and analysis module comprising a processor programmed with at least one algorithm to automatically compare inputs from the molecular spectroscopic analysis system and said elemental spectroscopic analysis system.  
   
   
       14 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  further comprising starting the at least one algorithm in real time with the analysis of the object using the two spectroscopic systems.  
   
   
       15 . A method in accordance with  claim 13  further comprising starting the at least one algorithm within about 15 minutes of initiating the analysis of the object using the two or more spectroscopic systems.  
   
   
       16 . An integrated apparatus capable of both molecular and elemental spectroscopic analysis, said apparatus comprising: 
 a molecular spectroscopic analysis system, said molecular spectroscopic analysis system comprises an infrared spectroscopic system or an ultraviolet spectroscopic system;    an elemental spectroscopic analysis system, said elemental spectroscopic analysis system comprises an x-ray fluorescence spectroscopic system;    a computational and analysis module coupled to said molecular spectroscopic analysis system and to said elemental spectroscopic analysis system, said computational and analysis module comprises a processor programmed to compare inputs from said molecular spectroscopic analysis system and said elemental spectroscopic analysis system; and    a display device coupled to said computational and analysis module.    
   
   
       17 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said molecular spectroscopic analysis system comprises a laser induced fluorescence spectroscopic system, an arc-induced fluorescence spectroscopic system, or a filament-induced fluorescence spectroscopic system, and said elemental spectroscopic analysis system comprises an x-ray fluorescence spectroscopic system.  
   
   
       18 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said molecular spectroscopic analysis system comprises a near infrared spectroscopic system and said elemental spectroscopic analysis system comprises an x-ray fluorescence spectroscopic system.  
   
   
       19 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said computational and analysis module comprises a processor programmed with at least one algorithm to automatically compare inputs from said molecular spectroscopic analysis system and said elemental spectroscopic analysis system.  
   
   
       20 . An apparatus in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said apparatus is portable, having a weight and size to enable said apparatus to be transported by a user.